Hacktivism is defined as "the nonviolent use of legal and/or
illegal digital tools in pursuit of political ends."

As the Republican nomination (sort of) draws close to conclusion,
there is a potential for hackers leaning towards one side or the
other in the political spectrum to utilize the types of
techniques that have been hitting the internet in greater
frequency over the past couple of years. Hacktivists such as
Anonymous have attacked various
companies, organizations, and governments since 2010 to protest a
perceived wrong or to promote an agenda. Will they or others use
the upcoming US presidential elections as another rally point to
make their statements?

Could it affect the outcome?

"There's very little doubt that whoever gets the Republican
nomination, their website will be hacked at some point," said
security specialist Sal McCloskey from TECHi. "The
President's website is likely more secure but government websites
have fallen just as easily as private ones."

This graphic from Frugal Dad shows us a brief history of
hacktivism and its rise as a virtual weapon.